Muirhevnamor open big gap on champions
Pictures: Ken Finegan P 8 7 8 8 9 7 9 5 9
P 10 8 10 11 11 10 9 9 8 9 11
P 10 9 9 8 8 9 7 10 8 W 6 6 5 5 4 3 2 1 0
W 9 7 6 6 6 5 3 3 2 1 0
W 9 5 5 5 4 4 3 1 0 D 1 0 2 0 1 2 0 0 0
D 0 1 1 0 0 2 2 1 0 2 1
D 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 1 0 L 1 1 1 3 4 2 7 4 9
L 1 0 3 5 5 3 4 5 6 6 10
L 0 4 4 3 3 5 1 8 8 PTS 19 18 17 15 13 11 6 3 0
PTS 27 22 19 18 18 17 11 10 6 5 1
PTS 28 15 15 15 13 12 12 4 0
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THE leaders further stretched their lead to 13 points over the champions when the big match in the under-17 league between the top two was switched to the Muirhevnamor all weather pitch on Saturday, as the weather again decimated the weekend fixture list.
With this win it now looks only a formality that they will be crowned as Rock’s successors as they confirmed their superiority over them although it was three minutes from time before they finally saw off the plucky Seasiders with Oisin Morrow’s dazzling angled strike from inside the penalty box. .
They thrashed Celtic 7-2 when the sides met earlier in the season, but both sides have lost three top players to the Cavan Monaghan combination who are to compete in the national league.
Celtic were under the cosh from the kick-off and their goal led a charmed life, as twice they were saved by the woodwork in the opening 15 minutes, while Stephens also headed off his goal line to prevent the leaders taking the lead.
The leaders dominance paid off under the half hour mark when Paddy Nicholson seized on a mistake by a Rock defender and raced into the penalty box and slotted the ball into the corner of the net.
Rock posed their first danger to their opponents a couple of minutes later when Caolan McCabe struck the crossbar, but Oran O’Hanlon who excelled in the Rock goal saved his side from falling two goals in arrears when he smartly Advanced from his line and bravely smothered Samuel Olaknbasubo’s shot. The latter was released inside the penalty box by a surging run by Sean Hill who took off past at least three opponents from half way.
O’Hanlon made another fine save with his feet to deny Nicholson early in the second-half and did well to push away a corner kick by the same player.
Rock began to impose themselves on the game, and Oran McParland fired a warning to the leaders which a long range shot just over the bar.
Then central defender Kevin Campbell stepped up and from the best part of 40 yards from goal spectacularly struck a free-kick high into top corner of the net to make it level pegging barely half way through the second period.
Rock were looking like eking out a highly commendable draw, but as they grew in confidence and launched a promising attack, they lost possession well into the Muirhevnamor half.
The leaders swiftly counter attacked and the ball was played into the penalty box to the left of goal for Morrow to finish in style.
Campbell was given a chance to repeat his feat when his side were awarded another free-kick outside the box. This time he didn’t hit it with the same conviction, but goalkeeper Mide Odubanjo dealt with it in un-orthodox and unconvincing fashion with his feet in front of his gaol only for his defence to scramble the ball clear.
His counter part O’Hanlon at full stretch thwarted Nicholson once again before the final whistle MUIRHEVNAMOR: Mide Odubanjo, Isaac Olaide, David Ekperouh, Conal Doyle, Sean Finnegan, Oboom Onurbanjo, Kitan Amau, Uche Ibeh, Patrick Nicholson, Sean Hill, Oisin Morrow.
ROCK Celtic: Oran O’Hanlon, Luke Hoban, James Kieran, Kevin Campbell, Bryan Soraghan, Josh Todd, Jay O’Hagan, Caolan McCabe, Isaac McGahon, Opi Stephens, Aaron McQuillan, Ben Collier, Oran McParland, Josh Connolly, Dennis Otabor.